Van Andel Arena concourse expansion will begin this summer

View full sizeCourtesy IllustrationVan Andel Concourse Expansion: Renderings of a planned addition to Van Andel Arena.GRAND RAPIDS -- A $1 million addition to provide some added breathing room in Van Andel Arena's sometimes congested concourse is slated to get under way this summer and should be wrapped up or nearly done by the time the Griffins drop the puck next fall.

The Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority on Friday approved the final design for the 3,100-square-foot addition.

The addition is designed to almost seamlessly integrate with the facility's current design, said officials from arena management firm SMG and arena architects at Rossetti.

The addition is expected to provide additional space for concessions as well as easier passage along the elevated concourse on the arena's northwestern corner, which has proven a bottleneck during large events.

SMG's Rich MacKeigan said he plans to meet with construction firms beginning next week to discuss bids for the project based on the now-final design choice.